Home - Critical Care Science (CCS)

  • Research Letter

    COVID-19 underpinning the inverse equity hypothesis between public and private health care in Brazil

    Crit Care Sci. 2024;36:e20240294en

    Abstract

    Research Letter

    COVID-19 underpinning the inverse equity hypothesis between public and private health care in Brazil

    Crit Care Sci. 2024;36:e20240294en

    DOI 10.62675/2965-2774.20240294-pt

    Views45
    Since 1990, the Brazilian public health care system, known as the Unified Health System (SUS – Sistema Único de Saúde), has provided free health care services to all individuals throughout the country. However, approximately 24.9% of the Brazilian population has the financial means to afford private health care alternatives.() Equity, a fundamental principle of SUS, […]
    See more
    COVID-19 underpinning the inverse equity hypothesis between public and private health care in Brazil
  • Original Article

    Alternative approaches to analyzing ventilator-free days, mortality and duration of ventilation in critical care research

    Crit Care Sci. 2024;36:e20240246en

    Abstract

    Original Article

    Alternative approaches to analyzing ventilator-free days, mortality and duration of ventilation in critical care research

    Crit Care Sci. 2024;36:e20240246en

    DOI 10.62675/2965-2774.20240246-en

    Views64

    ABSTRACT

    Objective:

    To discuss the strengths and limitations of ventilator-free days and to provide a comprehensive discussion of the different analytic methods for analyzing and interpreting this outcome.

    Methods:

    Using simulations, the power of different analytical methods was assessed, namely: quantile (median) regression, cumulative logistic regression, generalized pairwise comparison, conditional approach and truncated approach. Overall, 3,000 simulations of a two-arm trial with n = 300 per arm were computed using a two-sided alternative hypothesis and a type I error rate of α = 0.05.

    Results:

    When considering power, median regression did not perform well in studies where the treatment effect was mainly driven by mortality. Median regression performed better in situations with a weak effect on mortality but a strong effect on duration, duration only, and moderate mortality and duration. Cumulative logistic regression was found to produce similar power to the Wilcoxon rank-sum test across all scenarios, being the best strategy for the scenarios of moderate mortality and duration, weak mortality and strong duration, and duration only.

    Conclusion:

    In this study, we describe the relative power of new methods for analyzing ventilator-free days in critical care research. Our data provide validation and guidance for the use of the cumulative logistic model, median regression, generalized pairwise comparisons, and the conditional and truncated approach in specific scenarios.

    See more
  • Editorial

    Challenges and limitations of using ventilator-free days as an outcome in critical care trials

    Crit Care Sci. 2024;36:e20240088en

    Abstract

    Editorial

    Challenges and limitations of using ventilator-free days as an outcome in critical care trials

    Crit Care Sci. 2024;36:e20240088en

    DOI 10.62675/2965-2774.20240088-en

    Views93
    The use of ventilator-free days (VFDs) as an outcome measure is increasingly popular in critical care research.(-) This composite outcome simultaneously reflects patient survival and the time not spent on mechanical ventilation (MV) within a specified timeframe, which usually extends from randomization up to Day 28. For patients who do not survive this period, VFDs […]
    See more
  • Clinical Report

    Topical glyceryl trinitrate to increase radial artery diameter in neonates: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

    Crit Care Sci. 2024;36:e20240235en

    Abstract

    Clinical Report

    Topical glyceryl trinitrate to increase radial artery diameter in neonates: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

    Crit Care Sci. 2024;36:e20240235en

    DOI 10.62675/2965-2774.20240235-pt

    Views25

    ABSTRACT

    Background:

    Newborn infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit require arterial cannulation for hemodynamic monitoring and blood sampling. Arterial access is achieved through catheterization of umbilical or peripheral arteries. Peripheral artery cannulation is performed in critically ill newborns, but artery localization and cannulation is often challenging and unsuccessful. Therefore, increasing the internal diameter and preventing vasospasm are important for successful peripheral artery cannulation in neonates. Topical glyceryl trinitrate has the potential to increase cannulation success by relaxing arterial smooth muscles and thus increasing the internal diameter. We aim to conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topycal glyceryl trinitrate in increasing the diameter of the radial artery in neonates.

    Methods/Design:

    This study will be a single-center, observer-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit of Perth Children’s Hospital, Western Australia. A total of 60 infants born at >34 weeks of gestation who are admitted for elective surgery or medical reasons and for whom a peripheral arterial line is needed for sampling or blood pressure monitoring will be recruited after informed parental consent is obtained. The primary outcome will be the change in radial arterial diameter from baseline to postintervention. Secondary outcomes will be the absolute and percentage change from baseline in the radial arterial diameter in both limbs and safety (hypotension and methemoglobinemia).

    Discussion:

    This will be the first randomized controlled trial evaluating the use of topical glyceryl trinitrate to facilitate peripheral artery cannulation in neonates. If our pilot randomized controlled trial confirms the benefits of glyceryl trinitrate patches, it will pave the way for large multicenter randomized controlled trials in this field.

    See more
  • Correspondence

    To: Association between rectus femoris cross-sectional area and diaphragmatic excursion with weaning of tracheostomized patients in the intensive care unit

    Crit Care Sci. 2024;36:e20240131en

    Abstract

    Correspondence

    To: Association between rectus femoris cross-sectional area and diaphragmatic excursion with weaning of tracheostomized patients in the intensive care unit

    Crit Care Sci. 2024;36:e20240131en

    DOI 10.62675/2965-2774.20240131-en

    Views21
    To the Editor We read an interesting prospective, single-center, observational cohort study on the relationship between the cross-sectional diameter of the rectus femoris muscle, the degree of diaphragmatic excursion, and the outcome of weaning 81 critically ill patients by Vieira et al.() Successfully weaning critically ill patients from mechanical ventilation has been found to be […]
    See more
  • Original Article

    Goal-directed therapy guided by the FloTrac sensor in major surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

    Crit Care Sci. 2024;36:e20240196en

    Abstract

    Original Article

    Goal-directed therapy guided by the FloTrac sensor in major surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

    Crit Care Sci. 2024;36:e20240196en

    DOI 10.62675/2965-2774.20240196-en

    Views111

    ABSTRACT

    Objective

    To provide insights into the potential benefits of goal-directed therapy guided by FloTrac in reducing postoperative complications and improving outcomes.

    Methods

    We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to evaluate goal-directed therapy guided by FloTrac in major surgery, comparing goal-directed therapy with usual care or invasive monitoring in cardiac and noncardiac surgery subgroups. The quality of the articles and evidence were evaluated with a risk of bias tool and GRADE.

    Results

    We included 29 randomized controlled trials with 3,468 patients. Goal-directed therapy significantly reduced the duration of hospital stay (mean difference -1.43 days; 95%CI 2.07 to -0.79; I2 81%), intensive care unit stay (mean difference -0.77 days; 95%CI -1.18 to -0.36; I2 93%), and mechanical ventilation (mean difference -2.48 hours, 95%CI -4.10 to -0.86, I2 63%). There was no statistically significant difference in mortality, myocardial infarction, acute kidney injury or hypotension, but goal-directed therapy significantly reduced the risk of heart failure or pulmonary edema (RR 0.46; 95%CI 0.23 – 0.92; I2 0%).

    Conclusion

    Goal-directed therapy guided by the FloTrac sensor improved clinical outcomes and shortened the length of stay in the hospital and intensive care unit in patients undergoing major surgery. Further research can validate these results using specific protocols and better understand the potential benefits of FloTrac beyond these outcomes.

    See more
  • Research Letter

    Generalizing the application of machine learning predictive models across different populations: does a model to predict the use of renal replacement therapy in critically ill COVID-19 patients apply to general intensive care unit patients?

    Crit Care Sci. 2024;36:e20240285en

    Abstract

    Research Letter

    Generalizing the application of machine learning predictive models across different populations: does a model to predict the use of renal replacement therapy in critically ill COVID-19 patients apply to general intensive care unit patients?

    Crit Care Sci. 2024;36:e20240285en

    DOI 10.62675/2965-2774.20240285-pt

    Views62
    TO THE EDITOR The widespread use of machine learning has created the possibility of generating robust prediction models for individual patients; however, caution is needed in their use for heterogeneous critically ill populations.() Recent literature has demonstrated major advances in the field of acute kidney injury prediction and the need for renal replacement therapy (RRT).() […]
    See more
    Generalizing the application of machine learning predictive models across different populations: does a model to predict the use of renal replacement therapy in critically ill COVID-19 patients apply to general intensive care unit patients?
  • Original Article

    Conscious prone positioning in nonintubated COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis

    Crit Care Sci. 2024;36:e20240176en

    Abstract

    Original Article

    Conscious prone positioning in nonintubated COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis

    Crit Care Sci. 2024;36:e20240176en

    DOI 10.62675/2965-2774.20240176-en

    Views279

    ABSTRACT

    Objective:

    To systematically review the effect of the prone position on endotracheal intubation and mortality in nonintubated COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

    Methods:

    We registered the protocol (CRD42021286711) and searched for four databases and gray literature from inception to December 31, 2022. We included observational studies and clinical trials. There was no limit by date or the language of publication. We excluded case reports, case series, studies not available in full text, and those studies that included children < 18-years-old.

    Results:

    We included ten observational studies, eight clinical trials, 3,969 patients, 1,120 endotracheal intubation events, and 843 deaths. All of the studies had a low risk of bias (Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Risk of Bias 2 tools). We found that the conscious prone position decreased the odds of endotracheal intubation by 44% (OR 0.56; 95%CI 0.40 – 0.78) and mortality by 43% (OR 0.57; 95%CI 0.39 – 0.84) in nonintubated COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. This protective effect on endotracheal intubation and mortality was more robust in those who spent > 8 hours/day in the conscious prone position (OR 0.43; 95%CI 0.26 – 0.72 and OR 0.38; 95%CI 0.24 – 0.60, respectively). The certainty of the evidence according to the GRADE criteria was moderate.

    Conclusion:

    The conscious prone position decreased the odds of endotracheal intubation and mortality, especially when patients spent over 8 hours/day in the conscious prone position and treatment in the intensive care unit. However, our results should be cautiously interpreted due to limitations in evaluating randomized clinical trials, nonrandomized clinical trials and observational studies. However, despite systematic reviews with meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials, we must keep in mind that these studies remain heterogeneous from a clinical and methodological point of view.

    See more
    Conscious prone positioning in nonintubated COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis

Search

Search in:

Article type
article-commentary
brief-report
case-report
correction
editorial
editorial
letter
letter
other
rapid-communication
reply
research-article
research-article
review-article
Seção
Articles
Artigo de Revisão de Pediatria
Artigo Original
Artigo Original de Pediatria
Artigo Original Destaque
Artigos de Revisão
Artigos originais
Author's Response
Brief Communication
Case Report
Case Reports
Clinical Report
Comentários
Commentaries
Commentary
Consenso Brasileiro de Monitorização e Suporte Hemodinâmico
Correspondence
Editoriais
Editorial
Editorials
Erratum
Letter to the Editor
Letters to the Editor
Original Article
Original Article – Basic Research
Original Article – Neonatologia
Original Articles
Original Articles – Basic Research
Original Articles – Clinical Research
Relato de Caso
Relatos de Caso
Research Letter
Review
Review Article
Special Article
Special Articles
Viewpoint
Year / Volume
2024; v.36
2023; v.35
2022; v.34
2021; v.33
2020; v.32
2019; v.31
2018; v.30
2017; v.29
2016; v.28
2015; v.27
2014; v.26
2013; v.25
2012; v.24
2011; v.23
2010; v.22
2009; v.21
2008; v.20
2007; v.19
2006; v.18
ISSUE

Have your research published in our journal!

Publish your research in a full open access journal with credibility and high scientific and ethical standards.

Indexed in:

Support